site.btaUPDATED GERB Leader Tells Party Supporters in Sofia to Vote Their Conscience at Mayoral Runoffs, Expresses Personal Preference for Socialist Candidate

GERB leader Boyko Borissov told his party supporters in Sofia Tuesday to vote their conscience at the mayoral runoffs this coming Sunday. "It is a bad idea to offer support that has not been requested," he said. 

GERB's candidate for Sofia Mayor, popular TV personality Anton Hekimyan, took a surprise third place in the mayoral race after front-runner Vassil Terziev of Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria and Save Sofia, and runner-up Vanya Grigorova of the Socialist party.

But while he told his supporters to vote their conscience, Borissov also said that he agrees with Hekimyan that "state ownership is better than State Security". "State ownership" is a clear reference to Grigorova with her Socialist views, and "State Security" for Vassil Terziev, who was frequently attacked for his family's connection to the communist-era State Security service.

Hekimyan did not say exactly what Borissov said he did. He wrote in a social media post on the day after the elections: 'For me, and perhaps for those who did not vote, a difficult choice between state security and state ownership is ahead! And yes - everyone is responsible for their choices. I made mine and I don't regret it. I will work and defend it! 

The result in Sofia was expected considering the large-scale attack on us in the past three years, Borissov said in Plovdiv where GERB candidate Kostadin Dimitrov took a comfortable lead on October 29 but not enough to win outright, and will be going to runoffs on Sunday.

These elections are a punishment for the entire political class, Borissov added. He said turnout in the local elections was low.

He said GERB's results were excellent compared to the others. Borissov pointed out that GERB and the candidates supported by the party won 95 municipalities in the first round, of which seven were regional centres. In 71 municipalities candidates of the party or supported by it are going to the second round, and in 17 regional cities GERB is in the lead, Borissov said.